Blog

Sat 9 Aug – SUMMER SONIC TOKYO

Day One:

Cut Off Your Hands
The Subways
Death Cab for Cutie
The Fratellis
Sex Pistols

Day Two:
Does it Offend You, Yeah?
Super Furry Animals
Justice
Devo
Fatboy Slim

Of course we'd planned to watch a lot more, but the stages are so far apart, this is all we could squeeze in.


Cut Off Your Hands
We chanced upon this band as we were walking around. We were both like woah, this is good. So we went, and they were our great discovery of the weekend! I'm now in the market for their album.

The Subways
These days, live acts do NOT get any better than this. Totally impressed with their stage presence and they were SO in to the audience. In rock and roll queen, they even sang the climax in Japanese. Everyone went totally ape shit. Including me, and I don't even SPEAK japanese. I love finding bands that are better live than they are recorded.

Death Cab for Cutie
What's with the song choice, Ben?
The new album blows.
But there was one moment: Soul Meets Body, live? I've imagined it for so long, it was perfect.

The Fratellis
I hate to say it. HATE to say it. Totally disappointing.


Sex Pistols
You know how there are some moments in your life when you think, this is it. This is THE moment of my life, this is it.
After days, months, years, dreaming of being a kid growing up in the 70s, here i was, with MY johnny rotten in front of me. I couldn't breathe and i couldn't think. And then all of a sudden I thought I was gonna explode, and then I knew how they felt, those girls in the youtube videos - to be so overcome that you want to rip off your clothes and pull out your hair because you don't how else to react or what else to do. Nothing will ever compare.
Eh, Johnny?

Does It Offend You, Yeah?
I really thought these guys would be my age or younger. That is, college or high school kids. but no! they are middle aged gents. Singing:

"I can't control myself when
I see you with someone else
When I get down all by myself
you're the one that I think about.
Let's make out! Let's make out!"

Right. 30+ yr old men singing about jerking off and making out. BUT.
They were awesome. I likeeeee. As i expected, their music kicks ass when played live.

Super Furry Animals

I wish we'd seen more, but SFA are just adorable. Put your hands on your head and wiggle your fingers! I promise, that's the optimum listening position.

Justice

They just went on and on and on. And like, enough already.
Nah, i loved every second of it. Not my thing AT ALL.
But I know good music when I hear it.

Devo
Anyone reading this will know how I love bands from years past.
I wish you guys were my grandpas.
Are we not men?
We are DEVO!
New bands have a thing or two to learn about live performances from these guys.

Fatboy Slim

And the award goes to: Fatboy Slim.
He was IN LOVE with the audience.
We was in berms, and with no shoes.
He was doing silly dances and sitting on the front of the stage.
And.
AND.
He mixed The Rockafeller Skank with Satisfaction (and i do mean I Can't Get No).

"I can't get no,
check it out now
I can't GET no,
right about now
SatisFACtion
the funk soul brother"


perfect closing for this amazingly awesome thing.

And after it was over, you're like, woah, i don't think i can feel my legs!

These are the top 5 albums, not in the world, not ever, but just in my mind at the moment.

1. The Doors - The Doors

Can a debut album get any better than this? Jim's voice is sex. You'd think a 5 minute keyboard solo goes a bit overboard. It doesn't.

2. The Clash - London Calling

I can't get enough of this double LP. Especially after hearing the story. The boys from Clash got approval from the label to include a free single in their LP. Once approved, they went and just made an entire additional LP! Good one, boys. Thing is, I don't get to the 2nd LP very often. The first is too addictive, I can play it all day. I mean, it's Montgomery Clift, honey!

3. The Velvet Underground - White Light/White Heat

If you chance upon John Cale, tell him we're engaged and he'll be reciting The Gift to me for eternity. I first heard Sister Ray through a cover by Joy Division. Listening to this album hasn't just introduced me to one awesome but very inaccessible band - it's given me insight to JD's entire existence.

4. Sonic Youth - Daydream Nation

Reachable, powerful, immaculate. This is MY trip.

She thinks she's a goddess.
She says she talks to the spirits.
I wonder if she talks to herself.
If she can bear to hear it.


5. David Bowie - Space Oddity

David, you got me from the very first line.
How beautiful. How alien. How inhuman. How perfect.